Giving to the God Who Provides
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Introduction
Introduction
The Gospel Identity of the Elder
The Gospel Message of the Elder
The Gospel Suffering of the Elder
The Gospel Charge of the Elder
The Gospel Reward of the Elder
The Gospel Heart of the Elder
Paul demonstrates these concepts out of his own life, as he says in 1 Cor 11:1 “1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Illustration: in 2019, after a year and a half of serving this church as the pastor, and several years of serving in other capacities, I left a job not knowing how I would replace that income. As I gathered my things together to leave for the last time, I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in part-time work. I said yes, and I thanked God for his perfect provision.
As I approached a year of working part-time, I began to search for another job. We got by fine most months, but we were regularly hit with expenses that were beyond what a Church’s salary and part-time labor could account for. No health insurance, had to replace a vehicle, no retirement savings.
I could still afford to take things slowly, so I did. Eventually I was sat down by my boss, who was fully aware of my job search and that I could leave at any moment, he told me he was going to end his contract with the City and if I was interested, he wanted to recommend I take his place as a full-time Director. I said I was interested, but I needed to talk to my wife about it first.
I took my lunch break and went home. Cassie was visiting her sister in GA, so I called her and told her what happened. Now, you probably have never seen this, but any time there is a major change, my wife is good about taking the stance of “Don’t get excited, slow down, and let’s make sure this is actually a good thing.” So when she answered, “That’s great! You should do it!” I took that as a confirmation that this was the God-provided path. I had no idea.
What I didn’t know was that just an hour earlier, as I was sitting down with my boss to discuss my future role at the City, Cassie was taking a pregnancy test. She had just found out Seth was on his way, I didn’t know yet, but she takes the test and gets to witness God reach out and say, “Here’s how I’m going to meet this need.”
We celebrated Seth’s second birthday this week. Seth Jireh Ringl. Seth because it was not in our plans to have another child while I was working part time, but God appointed that we have another child. Jireh because our God, Jehovah Jireh, saw our need and provided for it.
I have never gotten to the point where I’ve fully replaced the level of income I had in 2018, but I can stand here and tell you God provides.
Exposition
Exposition
Focus passage:
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Verse 31
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
A transition. “Be alert” so that you may be committed to God and the ministry of His Word.
Verse 32
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
The mention of an inheritance should be noted. This is the great reward that we should all look forward to, not earthly gain.
Eph 1:18 “18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”
Col 1:12 “12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
1 Pe 1:3-4 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,”
In light of this reward, let us examine verses 33-34:
Verses 33-34
33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
Paul’s method of ministry was to work to support his needs and not make any request of support from those he would minister to.
Let’s think of other times Paul has addressed payment.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
So which is it? Do we serve for an eternal reward? Or do we “make a living” from serving God? Not at odds with his other statements that concern the minister’s pay.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
It is an intensely personal calling. Remember the first week in this series:
Most are called to subsist on their ministry, some are called to labor for their ministry.
Let’s finish examining this passage and move into a few short points of application:
35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Paul is giving an example of what the elders should do. The elders should provide example for the members of the church.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” is not a direct quote from one of the Gospels, but a part of oral tradition, being passed along as a teaching of Christ.
How do we give to God? We must work to support our families, our church and its leadership, and ministry.
We work to support our families.
We work to support our families.
God cares about the 90% as much as he cares about the 10%.
9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Our work must first care for our daily needs.
We work to support our church.
We work to support our church.
As members of the church, we are co-laborers in Christ.
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
We support our church family. (An extension of our previous point.)
We support our church programs. (Not in support only, but also in attendance.)
We support our church leaders. (My feelings on pay.)
I’ve been asked how we can bring on another elder. I said this publically in our last business meeting, I have repeated it in private in front of several of you, I would ask our stewardship committee consider this as we approach a business meeting at the end of August. The enjoyment of the Church parsonage is a great benefit, and we do not believe we need anything else.
I so strongly believe in our need for biblical eldership that I would, if you’ll excuse the phrase, put my money where my mouth is, and ask that the additional payment given to me be placed elsewhere, where it can build our church’s leadership.
We work to support evangelism.
We work to support evangelism.
All of this is for the greater need of sharing Christ crucified in Bagdad, Santa Rosa, our nation, and our world. FBC Bagdad’s mission is to help people follow Jesus in our Church, our Neighborhoods, and our World. It’s the great commission:
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
How to respond:
First, examine yourself inwardly. What is your state before God? What is the state of your family?
Second, are you a supporter of God’s church? Do you give? Do you attend? Do you pray? Do you volunteer?
Finally, examine your fruit and the fruit of FBC Bagdad. Are people hearing God’s word?